05-07-19 | Songs for Listening | Luciana Souza
GRAMMY winner Luciana Souza, one of the world's leading jazz singers, picked tunes for Tuesday, May 7 at Songs for Listening. Born in São Paulo, Brazil, in the late sixties, she grew up in a family of Bossa Nova innovators, her father, a singer and songwriter; her mother, a poet and lyricist.
As a band leader, Luciana has been releasing recordings since 2002, including her six GRAMMY-nominated records Brazilian Duos, North and South, Duos II, Tide, Duos III, and The Book of Chet. Her debut recording for Universal, The New Bossa Nova, was produced by her husband, Larry Klein and met with widespread critical acclaim. Luciana’s recordings also include two works based on poetry: The Poems of Elizabeth Bishop and Other Songs, and Neruda.
Luciana has performed and recorded with greats including Herbie Hancock (on the GRAMMY-winning, River: The Joni Letters), Paul Simon, James Taylor, Bobby McFerrin, Maria Schneider, and many others. Luciana's singing has been called "transcendental, "perfect" and of "unparalleled beauty. " Entertainment Weekly writes, "Her voice traces a landscape of emotion that knows no boundaries."
Luciana has been a prominent soloist in two important works by composer Osvaldo Golijov: La Pasion According to St. Mark and Oceana. She has performed with the Bach Akademie Stuttgart, Boston Symphony, New York Phil, LA Phil, and the American Composers Orchestra. Her work in chamber music includes a fruitful collaboration with the LA Guitar Quartet and composers Derek Bermel and Patrick Zimmerli.
Here's Luciana's picks w/ her annotations:
'Ritornello 2.sq.2.j.a.' by Caroline Shaw /Attacca Quartet
"Everything to come out of Caroline seems to be the most original thing I have ever heard. Her use of known sounds, her sense of humor, her reverence for what is truly unique and personal … her music is stunning. I adore her … "
'Dreamsville' by Ben Monder
"Ben’s music is like Caroline’s composing … Old and new. Good and great. Big and small. Perfect."
'Cais - Ao Vivo' by Milton Nascimento
"Nothing will ever be like Milton’s music. The unique voice (human and compositional) that captured the essence of his state of Minas Gerais."
'Ritornello 2.sq.2.j.a.' by Caroline Shaw / Attacca Quartet from 'Orange'
'Dreamsville' by Ben Monder from 'Day After Day'
'Cais - Ao Vivo' by Milton Nascimento from 'Clube da Esquina'
